The Fourth Political Theory[a] is a book by the Russian philosopher and political analyst Aleksandr Dugin, first published in 2009. In the book, Dugin states that he is claiming the foundations for an entirely new political ideology, the fourth political theory, which integrates and supersedes liberal democracy, Marxism, and fascism.[1] In this theory, the main subject of politics is not individualism, class struggle, or nation, but rather Dasein (existence itself).[2]
 Cover of the 2009 Russian edition | |
| Author | Aleksandr Dugin |
|---|---|
| Original title | Четвёртая политическая теория |
| Translator | Mark Sleboda and Michael Millerman |
| Language | Russian |
| Subject | Political philosophy |
| Published | 2009 (Amfora) |
| Publication place | Russia |
Published in English | 2012 (Arktos Media) |
| Pages | 351 (Russian edn.) |
| ISBN | 978-5-367-01089-3 |
Thesis
editIn the book, Dugin states that he wishes to devise an entirely new political theory to replace what he identifies as the previous three dominant political theories: liberalism, fascism and communism. According to Dugin, his aim is to take elements from all three, 'neutralise and decontaminate' negative aspects such as racism and incorporate them into this new ideology. He refers to this ideology as a 'timeless, non-modern theory' valid for all time.
Dugin views liberalism as having 'defeated all its competitors'. He refers to the derision of the past by liberals and the modern concept of 'progress' as being seriously flawed, going so far as to describe it as racism and even 'moral genocide against the past'.[1]
From the three other political theories, he discards the aspects he finds unacceptable and highlights what he sees as the positive qualities. He combines them to form a new political theory based on the 'ethnos', describing this as ‘the greatest value of the Fourth Political Theory as a cultural phenomenon; as a community of language, religious belief, daily life, and of sharing resources and efforts; as an organic entity’.[1]
Reception
editLiberal Catholic magazine Commonweal described the book as a "schizoid mixture of the ontology of Martin Heidegger and Gilles Deleuze, postmodern relativism, criticism of liberalism, and geopolitical megalomania".[3]
The Globe and Mail columnist Doug Sanders has cited the book in his insistence that Dugin is "the central figure" in the movement behind Russian policy in events such as the annexation of Crimea to Russia and the war in Donbas; Dugin's work and the neo-Eurasianism englobing it are pointed at in this context by Foreign Policy as well (though this particular book is not named).[4][5] French philosopher Alain de Benoist asserts a similar dynamic in this conflict.[6]
According to El Confidencial, the book has been influential in far-left and far-right circles in both Russia and the West.[7] Newsweek accused Steve Bannon, White House Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor to President Donald Trump, of having ideological links with Dugin,[8] something that Dugin himself confirmed[9] and was later repeated by The Independent, that noted how Dugin's thought is influencing both Putin and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.[10]
American white supremacist Matthew Heimbach, former leader of the Traditionalist Worker Party, claims affinity to the Fourth Political Theory.[11] Brazilian far-right group Nova Resistência, claims to adhere to the Theory as well.[12]
See also
edit
- Dark Enlightenment – Anti-democratic, reactionary philosophy founded by Curtis Yarvin in 2007
- Eurasia Movement – Socio-political movement in the Russian Federation
- Foundations of Geopolitics – 1997 geopolitical book by Aleksandr Dugin
- National Bolshevism – Political ideology
- Third Position – Set of neo-fascist political ideologies
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Dugin, Alexander (2012). The Fourth Political Theory. Translated by Sleboda, Mark; Millerman, Michael. Arktos Media. pp. 1–50.
- ^ "Dugin's 'Fourth Political Theory' and Postmodern Rage". 26 May 2018.
- ^ McManus, Matt (27 November 2022). "Just Call It Fascism". Commonweal.
- ^ Saunders, Doug (22 March 2014). "Has Putin bought into these dangerous ideas?". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^ Barbashin, Anton; Thoburn, Hannah (2014-03-31). "Putin's Brain". Foreign Affairs.
- ^ Benoist, Alain de (2019). Contre le libéralisme: La société n'est pas un marché (in French). Éditions du Rocher. ISBN 978-2-268-10141-5.
- ^ Férriz, Ramón González (27 November 2018). "Tenebroso Dugin, el cerebro que inspira a la extrema derecha mundial". El Confidencial (in Spanish).
- ^ Matthews, Owen (2017-04-17). "Steve Bannon's Ideological Ties to Russia". Newsweek.
- ^ Nemtsova, Anna (2017-04-24). "Russia's Alt-Right Rasputin Says He's Steve Bannon's Ideological Soul Mate". The Daily Beast.
- ^ Meyer, Henry (2017-02-03). "Alexander Dugin - The one Russian linking Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan". The Independent.
- ^ Bertrand, Natasha (10 December 2016). "'A model for civilization': Putin's Russia has emerged as 'a beacon for nationalists' and the American alt-right". Business Insider.
- ^ Zanini, Fábio (2022-03-02). "Guru da expansão russa, Aleksandr Dugin tem seguidores no Brasil e é fã de bossa nova". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese).